There was a time when Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean was actually one of the more overlooked players at his position, but those days are long gone.
Dean has been a rather big disappointment over the last couple of seasons, which comes on the heels of him saying a four-year, $52 million contract extension. This past season in particular, he logged 59 tackles, an interception and seven passes defended and missed five games due to injuries. In 2023, he allowed an opponent’s passer rating of 111.
So, could the Buccaneers potentially trade the 28-year-old?
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton thinks so and has proposed a deal in which Tampa Bay would send Dean to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
“The Buccaneers need change in the secondary. Despite finishing within the top nine in pressure rate and sacks, they ranked 29th in passing yards allowed last season, which points to an issue on the back end of the defensive unit,” Moton wrote. “If Tampa Bay targets a cornerback early in the upcoming draft, Dean may be available for a Super Bowl-contending squad looking to fill a need.”
Enter the Bills, who could actually afford to add some depth in their defensive backfield, especially considering that it doesn’t look like they are going to be re-signing Rasul Douglas.
Here’s the catch with Dean: he has no guaranteed money left on his contract, so Buffalo could feel free to acquire him without a real financial obligation, and the Bucs may be able to land an actual asset for him.
If the Buccaneers can jettison Dean for a fifth-rounder, it’s a move they should probably make.
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